Ford has brought on board Carlos Sainz Sr, a champion who has conquered the Dakar Rally four times, to head their off-road racing efforts starting in 2025.
Ford has enlisted Carlos Sainz Sr, a veteran with four Dakar Rally victories, and Nani Roma, another seasoned champion, to lead their team in the renowned Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia next year. They will announce the rest of their team later.
This engagement marks Sainz’s fourth collaboration with Ford, a relationship that began nearly two decades ago. His first rally with Ford was in 1987, driving a Ford Sierra RS. After a successful period, including two World Rally Championship titles and multiple wins, he returned to Ford in 1996 and again in 2000, adding more victories to his record.
Recently, Sainz guided Audi to a win at Dakar, which concluded a three-year project. Now, with Ford, he aims for his fifth Dakar victory with a different manufacturer, having previously won with Volkswagen, Peugeot, Mini, and Audi.
Sainz expressed his enthusiasm about rejoining Ford and M-Sport, highlighting his long-standing connection with Malcolm Wilson, the managing director of M-Sport. He looks forward to driving the Ford Raptor and contributing to Ford’s goal of winning the Dakar Rally.
Ford announced they have started testing the 2025 Ranger Raptor, their new vehicle for the Dakar challenge. They had introduced a modified version of the Ranger at this year’s event, driven by Roma and Gareth Woolridge.
Mark Rushbrook, the global director of Ford Performance Motorsport, emphasized Ford’s commitment to off-road racing and their goal to compete in the Dakar Rally with the Ford Raptor. He mentioned the importance of having a skilled team, including engineers, designers, and drivers like Roma and Sainz, who bring a wealth of experience and success to the project. The early tests of the Raptor are showing positive results, and the team is confident in the truck’s development.
